The State Museum of Culture History of Uzbekistan, nestled within the Samarkand State United historical-architectural and art museum complex, stands as a venerable institution, having opened its doors in 1896. It ranks among Uzbekistan’s most esteemed and time-honored museums.
Over the years, the museum has become a custodian of countless artifacts, each with its own tale and significance, contributing to the rich tapestry of the region’s cultural and historical narrative. The museum’s organizational structure is divided into five specialized departments: the history department, the art department, the department for permanent and traveling exhibits, the department of archaeology, ethnography, applied arts, numismatics funds, and the marketing department.
Visitors to the museum are greeted with an array of treasures from the Bronze Age, including exquisite jewelry, Zoroastrian ossuaries, and sacred relics, alongside a chess set dating back to the 8th century. The museum also houses several thousand original artworks by renowned Uzbek painters from the early 20th century, as well as the poignant film by M. Kayumov, ‘Opening the Tomb of Tamerlane,’ filmed on the brink of World War II in 1941.
The museum’s collection boasts an impressive array of ancient and medieval ceramics, metals, glassware, and ganch decor. Its numismatic section holds a staggering array of over 30,000 coins, spanning from the earliest Central Asian states to regions as diverse as the Black Sea, Ancient Greece, and Rome. Among its prized possessions are three silver cups from the 5th and 6th centuries, unearthed in the Chelek settlement near Samarkand.
The ethnographic collection is equally impressive, with approximately 20,000 items that include traditional garments, gold-embroidered fabrics, and carpets, primarily from the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection also features intricately engraved knives and metalwork, predominantly crafted by artisans from Samarkand.
A source of immense pride for the Samarkand Museum is the globe created by the 19th-century educator from Khojent, Khodja Yusuf Mirfayazov. The museum, which once graced the iconic Registan Square from 1978 to 2010, was relocated to Ulugbek Street by government mandate. After a period of extensive renovations, the museum celebrated its grand reopening on September 1, 2014, continuing its mission to preserve and showcase the historical and cultural legacy of Uzbekistan.
Tours in Uzbekistan
